To what extent does the home healthcare industry pose a threat to the seniors housing sector?
Spread our value proposition
By Rick Shamberg
Co-Managing Partner
Cerulean Partners LLC
About 90 percent of people either aren’t ready, can’t afford, or don’t want to move to senior living, so it’s incumbent on us as an industry to tip the scales in our favor.
We need to do a much better job articulating to prospects and their families the value proposition of living in a community versus staying isolated at home with a caregiver.
We need to continue to re-
create the idea of where “home” is, extend our communities into the surrounding neighborhood, and further develop programming, amenities and services that are unique to congregate care. We also have to make moving more affordable.
Once a senior trusts that their lives will be enhanced more by moving than staying at home — and they can afford to do it — there’s no threat.
Home health enhances our industry
By Tim Gary
Founder and CEO
Village Park Senior Living
Home health does not pose a threat to the industry, but actually energizes seniors and their relatives to explore seniors housing options earlier.
Home healthcare enables seniors and their families to see the value of seniors housing services and recognize the opportunity for a more continuous program of services such as medication management, regular check-ins, daily living assistance and more.
Once seniors and their families begin exploring seniors housing, they also recognize how a supportive and engaging community greatly contributes to social and mental wellbeing, in addition to physical and mental health.
Labor is the big challenge
By Tommy Comer
Chief Human Resource Officer
Commonwealth Senior Living
Home healthcare is a threat to seniors housing, but in large part because of what’s occurring around us: The increasing use of machine learning and advanced technologies, the increasing use of tele-medicine and more homes built as “smart homes.”
If we polled every prospect who needed assisted living, or even a independent living, and asked if they would rather be at home with services or living in one of our communities, most (if not all) would stay home.
That likely has not changed in 20 years.
What has changed, though, is how much more competitive the work is for caregivers, who demand the ability to choose shifts and choose specific clients (residents). Home healthcare poses a greater threat for employees than residents.